Domino's (not the pizza, game or musician)

[gaj1967]

What is everyones early take on the Festool Domino? http://www.festoolusa.com/pages.aspx?docid=534

I know if someone gave it to me I'd keep it. But at about $600 it's a little pricey for me right now.

[drumpriest]

A friend of mine has pre-ordered this. I most likely won't get one, as it's 600$ for something I do right now with the tools I own. Also, the domino sizes are fairly limited. If I were being paid to do woodworking every day, then I'd consider it for the time saving, but otherwise, I'll stick with my plunge router and loose tenons.

[JSCOOK]

It's rumoured to be priced at about $1200 CDN ($1000 USD) plus tax up here ... everyone is waiting to see what it really comes in at.

However, even at $600 USD (not too far from the border ) that would buy a lot of other things and can live with biscuits & dowels for a long time.

My guess is give it a year or two, and others will have "knock offs" that work close enough that most of us won't care ... and can actually afford

[Ed62]

I've seen that before, and it looks pretty nice. But like others, I think it's a little pricey.

Ed

[ChrisD]

If you're one reason away from breaking down and buying one, you can thank the editor of one ww magazine for this spin: The Domino is less expensive than most M&T systems that involve a router and a jig or a tablesaw and a mortiser.

[drumpriest]

Well, Chris, I would agree that is the case for people who purchase a mortise and tenon jig like the frame M&T from Leigh, but you can certainly make nice mortise and tenon joints far cheaper.

My mortise and loose tenon setup is a plunge router with a fence that cost me 200$. I have a jig I made for routing the ends of materials, it was out of some scrap MDF, no more than 5$ worth of lumber.

I've made several projects this way, and uploaded a video here a while ago. I certainly have not yet come close to a 600$ expenditure on tools, jigs, or even tenon stock for mortise and loose tenon.

[ChrisD]

Well, Chris, I would agree that is the case for people who purchase a mortise and tenon jig like the frame M&T from Leigh, but you can certainly make nice mortise and tenon joints far cheaper.

Absolutely, Keith. It was a tongue-in-cheek comment, which is why I referred to it as 'spin' rather than 'justification'. I was really amused when I read the article.

[drumpriest]

Ah, sorry, didn't catch it, you are correct, of course! This tool is probably not aimed at the home shop woodworker. Honestly though, not many Festool products are concerned about mass market afford ability.

So, I apologize, for some reason when I read the post, my brain completely skipped to the actual spin. I think the Krenov book has a mortise jig that costs 10$ to build or something, good enough for James, probably good enough for me. ;-)

[ChrisD]

Hey, no worries. Totally agree with you on Festool's marketing. Although it would be interesting to know the level of acceptance among European hobbyists.

[Pappy]

I WANT ONE!



Non-tax deductible donations will be cheerfully accepted. Email me for the address.

[bthere]

I think it's like a biscuit jointer. This is a dedicated, single purpose machine. there are other ways to do the same job, but they often lack the convenience, ease, portability, or speed to do the that job the way the dedicated tool does. I eventually got a PC biscuit jointer when I found it sub $100 and love it. I don't use it enough to have justified, even in my frenzied tool-aholic dementia, to buy it at $200.

While I want one of the Dominoes, too, I doubt it will ever get into the price range where I would buy one. A plunge router does it for me for M&Ts. I can see that someone who does M&T every day could benefit from one. If they can afford it and want it, by all means get it (advice from a self confessed tool junkie).

[padboy]

Festool Domino

I remain unimpressed. Much like most German cars these days, overhyped performance,and certainly overpriced! It appears Festool is trying to recapture their R & D costs in one fell swoop.

[gerti]

Domino's (not the pizza, game or musician)

So naturally I am thinking Bond girls...

[drumpriest]

Obviously you can make your own tenons, and use the domino to "route" the mortises as well. That would be convenient if you were to use it daily. I think if it comes down in price, I'd be tempted. The problem is that knowing Festool, it's unlikely to drop in price anytime soon. We will probably have to wait out the patent for it, so that equally affective knock-offs will be released.

Think about how long it was before Lamello's patent went out, and we could afford biscuit joiners.